Navigating Change, Endings & New Beginnings Tips for Students and Their Families

Dear Parents and Families, 

As the academic year draws to a close, campus holds a distinctive emotional mix — excitement, relief, nostalgia, and uncertainty all at once. Whether your student is finishing their first year or their last, endings carry real weight. The Dyson Wellness Center invites you both to approach this season with intention and self-compassion.

For Your Student:

The close of a semester is a genuine loss — of routines, community, and a clear sense of purpose. Encourage your student to honor what they're feeling rather than rush past it. A few healthy practices for this time:

• Celebrate growth, not just grades. Ask: What risks did you take? What did you figure out about yourself?
• Tend to health loose ends. Schedule a closing counseling appointment, request prescription refills, and build in genuine rest before summer obligations begin.
• Say real goodbyes. Leaving with intention — a note to a professor, a proper farewell to friends — makes transitions healthier.
• Set one intention, not a plan. A single guiding hope for the summer is more grounding than a rigid to-do list.

For You as a Parent:

Your student's milestones are yours too. Be honest with yourself about what you're carrying — pride, relief, grief, and anxiety can all coexist. A few ways to support them (and yourself) well:

• Hold space before you fix. If your student is anxious or sad, "That makes a lot of sense" is often more helpful than a solution.
• Ask open questions. "How are you actually feeling about everything wrapping up?" creates room for an honest answer.
• Recalibrate the summer dynamic. Your student has grown. Negotiate expectations collaboratively — schedules, responsibilities, communication — rather than defaulting to old patterns.
• Tend to your own support system too. Model the self-care you encourage in them.

When to Reach Out:

If your student seems more distressed than typical end-of-year stress warrants — persistent withdrawal, hopelessness, significant changes in sleep or appetite, or statements about feeling like a burden — please don't wait. Contact the Dyson Wellness Center directly at 630-637-5550 or dysonwellness@noctrl.edu and/or complete an Early Alert Referral that will go directly to staff on campus who can also assist.  You don't need to be certain; you just need to make the call. We'll help you figure out the next step together.

Endings and beginnings are not opposites — they are the same moment seen from different directions. We are proud to walk this road with your family. Wishing you a meaningful close to the year and a hopeful start to what's next.

Healthy Regards,

Tatiana Sifri, Executive Director of the Dyson Wellness Center